Elephant Attack Crisis Rocks Jharkhand Assembly; MLA Holds Sit-In Protest

Ranchi — The growing menace of elephant attacks dominated proceedings in the Jharkhand Legislative Assembly on Thursday, with legislators expressing serious concern over rising fatalities and pressing for immediate state action.

During the second day of the Budget Session, Mandu MLA Nirmal Mahto of the All Jharkhand Students Union staged a sit-in protest on the Assembly steps. Displaying a banner, he accused the state administration and the Forest Department of severe negligence in addressing the escalating human-elephant conflict.

Mahto claimed that over 10 individuals have lost their lives in separate elephant attacks across the state. Despite the mounting casualties, he alleged, authorities have failed to implement a robust tracking and monitoring system to oversee elephant movement.

He noted that elephants frequently stray into villages and urban areas, resulting in casualties and property damage, while the government remains passive.

The legislator attributed the increasing incursions to rampant illegal mining. He alleged that unlawful extraction of coal and iron ore, along with nocturnal blasting in mining zones, has gravely disrupted the animals’ natural habitats.

Criticising the administration, he remarked that a government pledging to protect “Jal, Jungle, aur Zameen” has failed to preserve essential natural resources.

Mahto also objected to the current compensation policy. The state presently grants Rs 4 lakh as ex gratia relief in cases of death caused by elephant attacks. Calling this amount insufficient, he demanded an increase to Rs 20–30 lakh, along with a government job for one member of each affected family.

He further accused authorities of not fulfilling commitments to rebuild homes damaged during elephant incursions, asserting that affected families are receiving only symbolic assistance instead of meaningful rehabilitation.

The MLA called for a comprehensive policy response, including scientific monitoring of elephant corridors, stricter enforcement against illegal mining, and a time-bound rehabilitation strategy for impacted households.

With inputs from IANS